Chili emergency overtakes Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce

Published: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 5:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 5:02 p.m.

Anticipating a larger-than-last-year crowd at the upcoming Topsail Chili Festival, the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce is calling on all of its members to bring in extra chili this weekend.

As of Wednesday, eight cooks have signed up to battle it out in the annual cook-off, where festival-goers cast their votes to decide who brews the best chili.

The same number of cooks squared off in last year's challenge, the first annual Topsail Chili Festival.

Roughly 2,000 people attended last year's festival and, because of much milder temperatures, more are expected to attend this year, said chamber Interim Executive Director Tammy Proctor.

"This year we're doing a home-style chili cook-off," she said. "We did send out an urgent message to our members that because of the weather being so favorable we think we're going to have a bigger turnout."

In an email sent out earlier this week with the subject line "Rally the Chamber troops," Proctor urged all chamber members each to donate two gallons of chili to be served at the chamber's tent.

Tasters pay $3 per ticket to buy a four-ounce serving of chili. The tickets are also ballots that are dropped in fish bowls at each cook's tent.

"If they want to eat at just one vendor all night they can," Proctor said.

A beer tent, other food vendors and retail products from local shops will also be available to festival attendants.

The festival is being held Friday and Saturday at the Sneads Ferry Community Center. A portion of proceeds from the event go to Hope for the Warriors.

<p>Urgent! Chili needed!</p><p>Anticipating a larger-than-last-year crowd at the upcoming Topsail Chili Festival, the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce is calling on all of its members to bring in extra chili this weekend.</p><p>As of Wednesday, eight cooks have signed up to battle it out in the annual cook-off, where festival-goers cast their votes to decide who brews the best chili.</p><p>The same number of cooks squared off in last year's challenge, the first annual Topsail Chili Festival. </p><p>Roughly 2,000 people attended last year's festival and, because of much milder temperatures, more are expected to attend this year, said chamber Interim Executive Director Tammy Proctor.</p><p>"This year we're doing a home-style chili cook-off," she said. "We did send out an urgent message to our members that because of the weather being so favorable we think we're going to have a bigger turnout."</p><p>In an email sent out earlier this week with the subject line "Rally the Chamber troops," Proctor urged all chamber members each to donate two gallons of chili to be served at the chamber's tent.</p><p>Tasters pay $3 per ticket to buy a four-ounce serving of chili. The tickets are also ballots that are dropped in fish bowls at each cook's tent. </p><p>"If they want to eat at just one vendor all night they can," Proctor said.</p><p>A beer tent, other food vendors and retail products from local shops will also be available to festival attendants.</p><p>The festival is being held Friday and Saturday at the Sneads Ferry Community Center. A portion of proceeds from the event go to Hope for the Warriors.</p><p>For more information visit http://topsailchamber.org/</p><p><i></p><p>Metro desk: 343-2389</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</i></p>